Dr Ambrish Mithal decodes benefits of new weight-loss drugs
Dr Ambrish Mithal decodes benefits of new weight-loss drugs
Jun27,2025
Credit: India Today
Most type 2 diabetes patients are overweight, need to lose weight, and losing weight will help them even reverse or at least treat their diabetes better.
Reverses diabetes
Dr. Mithal describes body fat distribution in India is more on the belly. This, he says leads to a BMI lower than 30. However, the drugs can be used for someone whose BMI 27 and lower with comorbidities.
Skinny fat Indians
Dr. Mithal says that GLP-1 drugs are not magic but are powerful when taken along with proper diet high in protein and strength training.
Credit: Getty Images
GLP-1 drugs are not magic
Rapid weight loss, especially without strength training, can lead to muscle loss. Therefore, while taking the medicines, ensure you exercise and have a proper diet to avoid severe muscle loss.
Does it lead to muscle loss?
The medicines have shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and even reverse fatty liver.
Happy side-effects
GLP-1 drugs can help improved infertility in women with PCOS.
Beyond weight loss
Weight-loss drugs are not for everyone. Dr. Mithal says that assessing various factors like obesity and diabetes are required before prescribing the medicines.
Not for everyone
'You can't eradicate obesity by using these drugs you have to eradicate obesity by preventing it," Dr. Mithal says.
Forever drugs?
For years, metformin has been the standard first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. But newer medications are rapidly changing that equation, says Dr. Ambrish Mithal in conversation with Sneha Mordani for India Today's Booked.
Beyond Metformin
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